WOULD you like to be a newspaper reporter?

We have a rare apprenticeship vacancy on the Hereford Times that will allow someone to become professional, trained journalist.

No special qualifications or experience are needed.

We are looking for someone with a keen interest in local life in Herefordshire.

They must be confident in dealing with people, have a reasonable grasp of written English, and be willing to learn and work hard.

Ideally, they will be users of social media and enjoy sharing news and information across platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.

There is more general information about apprenticeships here. All candidates will have to complete an aptitude assessment.

More more information contact Hereford Times editor John Wilson.

My life as an apprentice reporter

Jaye McGowan is an apprentice reporter with a weekly newspaper like the Hereford Times in Gloucestershire. This is his account of what his job entails:

LIFE as an apprentice journalist is nothing if not exciting, and although there is little that can prepare you for a career in the media it is certainly worth the challenge.

I had wanted to work in journalism since I was studying for my A-levels, but my passion for the media began much earlier, as I learned the impact that the written word has on so many.

Becoming an apprentice journalist is not for the faint-hearted. You must be passionate in what you do and be prepared to deal with the criticism that comes along with having your work in the public eye, often taking it onboard and turning it into a tool for your own development.

For me, the last three months have been some of the most informative in my life. From having no journalistic experience, I have learned to report on breaking news and complex stories as they arise, using both social media and more traditional reporting techniques.

As an apprentice journalist you will be given the opportunity to pitch your own ideas in a buzzing newsroom, as well as create your own content, which in my experience has a positive effect on your community and the people within it.

There is little in life that gives you as much satisfaction as providing people with a platform from which to tell their stories.

The apprenticeship has allowed me to gain invaluable experience and this comes from more than working with fantastic journalists on a day-to-day basis.

As a multimedia journalist you will learn how to broadcast live, take film and video, develop your writing and get the legal knowledge to avoid being sued.

Every day is different, whether you are reporting on a breaking news story, filming videos for Facebook, helping someone in their effort to fundraise for refugees or rushing to get the paper finished on deadline day.

Becoming an apprentice journalist is one of the most rewarding experiences out there and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to break into the media industry.